Semiautomatic rifle



Dec. 25, R' F. 'sEMIAUToMATIo RIFLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1943 pnybzwrdederz'a @ey By @ww l WWW 25?( Dec. 25, 1945. R. F. GERFEN sEMIAuToMATIc RIFLE Filed April 2l, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFHCE SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE Raymond Frederick Gerfen, Belleville, Ill.

Application April 21, 1943, Serial No. 483,934

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in semi-automatic rines, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a fire arm of this character comprising novel means whereby the opening of the bolt relative to the ring of the cartridge in the chamber will be controlled.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a semi-automatic rie of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eicient and reliable in use, compact. light in weight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan View of a portion of a. semi-automatic rifle embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View in cross section through the upper portion of the rifle, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken substantially on the line lI-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation, showing the bolt retaining member.

Figure 6 is a View in front elevation of the bolt.

Figure 7 is a detail view in top plan of the searactuating link.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a frame I. The frame I has formed longitudinally therein a. bore 2 in which a bolt 3 is slidable. The usual recoil spring Il is operatively connected at 5 to the rear end portion of the bolt 3.

A ring pin 6 is slidably mounted in the lower portion of the bolt 3 for engagement and actuation by a spring loaded hammer 1. A coil spring 8 is provided in the forward portion of the bolt 3 for retracting or resetting the ring pin 6.

A sear 9 releasably secures the hammer 1 in cocked position. A link or bar I0 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement and slight vertical movement in the lower portion of the frame I. A trigger II is connected to the rear end portion of the bar Ill. An upstanding abutment I2 is provided on the forward end portion of the bar I0 for engagement with the sear 9 for releasing the hammer 1.

The abutment I2 is a portion of an arm I3 which projects upwardly and forwardly from the forward end portion of the bar IB. The arm I3 is engaged in an opening I5 in a pin I4 which is slidably mounted in the frame I. A coil spring I6 yieldingly engages the pin I4 beneath the bolt 3. The bolt 3 has formed in its lower portion a recess I1 for the reception of the pin i4.

The upper portion of the bolt 3 is formed to provide, at an intermediate point, an upstanding, transverse abutment or shoulder I8. Extending forwardly from the shoulder I8 to a point in spaced relation to the forward end of the bolt 3 ls a longitudinal bore I9. Longitudinal slots 2U in the upper portion of the bolt 3 communicate with the bore I9 at the sides thereof. The slots 20 are in registry with longitudinal grooves or channels 2I in the opposed walls of the frame I.

A plunger 22 is slidable in the bore I9, said plunger including a beveled rear end 23. A bar 24 is mounted transversely in the plunger 22 and is slidable in the slots 20 and the grooves 2|. A coil spring 25 in the forward portion of the bore I9 yieldingly urges the plunger 22 rearwardly in the bolt 3. The ring pin 6 is formed to provide a cam surface 2S at an intermediate point. A pawl 21 is pivotally mounted in the bolt 3 above the ring pin 6. One end of the pawl 21 is engaged with the plunger 22 for releasably securing said plunger in its forward or retracted position against the tension of the spring 25 through the medium of a spring 28. The other end of the pawl 21 is engaged with the cam surface 26 for disengaging said pawl from the plunger 22 when the firing pin 6 is driven forwardly by the hammer 1.

'I'he upper portion of the frame I is recessed or out out to accommodate a vertically swinging retaining latch 29 for thebbolt 3. The latch 29 is substantially U-shaped in cross section and comprises a pair of rearwardly extending side legs 3D which straddle the upstanding portion 3| of the frame I. A pin 32 pivotally secures the legs 30, at an intermediate point, to the frame portion 3i. Thus, the latch 29 is mounted on the frame for limited swinging movement in a vertical plane. Coil springs 33 beneath the rear end portions of the legs 3l] yieldingly resist upward or opening swinging movement of the latch 29. Mounted transversely in the free or forward end portion of the latch 29 is a rod or the like 34 which is engageable with the abutment I8 for releasably securing the bolt 3 in forward position.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Brieiiy, with the elements in the positions shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the gun is ready to be fired. The trigger I I is pulled for 'actuating the sear 9 through the medium of the slidable bar l0, thus releasing the hammer 1. 'Ihe hammer 'I strikes and drives thepin 6 forwardly in the bolt 3 against the tension of the spring 8 for ring Kthe cartridge k35 in thechamber 36. When the ring pin E is driven forwardly 'by the hammer l, the pawl 2'! is caused to release the plunger 22 by the cam surface 26. Thus, while the bullet is traveling through the barrel of the gun, the plunger 22 is moving rearwardly inthe bore I9 under the influence of the coil .spring 2.5. After the bullet has left the barrel of the rifle, the cam surface 23 of the plunger 22 engages the pin 34 and swings same, with the latch 29, upwardly against the tension of the coil springs 33. When the pin or -rod '34 .is thus for-,ced upwardly out of engagement with the abutment A8, the bolt 3 moves rearwardly .in ythe frame .I :aga-inst the tension of the recoil spring 4.. .As the bolt 3 moves rearwardly vin the bore 2, the end port-ions of the har :24, traveling in `the :grooves 2l, engage the rear ends of the grooves for arrest-ing andresetting the plunger 2,2 against the tension o f the vcoilspring .25, 'The plunger 122 is secured in reset position .by the .pawl A2l under the .iniiuence of the ,spring 28. Of course, when the bolt .3 reaches retractedposition, the spent cartridge :is ejected and .a new one is .caused to tenter the Chamber 6 in the usual manner. .From here on, the action or operation of the gun substantially similar 4to that .of other .semi-automatic weapons now on the market. It will thus be seen that a construc- -tion and arrangement has been provided whereby the opening of the :bolt relative to the stime that the bullet leaves the barrel of the rifle is positively controlled. This relationship is`controlled by the strength of the coil spring 25 and the position of the forwardly moving firing pin 6 at the time it causes the pawl 21' to release the plunger 22. The upper portion of the frame I is transversely notched at 31 to accommodate the rod or pin 34. A hand cooking bolt 38 is mounted on the forward end portion of the bolt 3. A slot 39 in one .side of the frame I communicates with the adjacent 4.groove ,2| totaclitate insertion of the member 24 in the bolt 3. Cartridges in the magazine well MI of the riiie are shown at 4I.

It is believed that the many advantages of a semi-automatic rifle constructed in accordance with .the .present .invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of theV gun is .as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be' resorted to which will fall within the scope of. the 'invention as claimed.

What is claimed is;

.A :semi-automatic .rifle comprising .a frame, a bolt .slidable in said frame, azring pin :slidable in the bolt, ya latch pivote-ily mounted .onthe iframe and engageable with the holt for releasab-ly .securing :said .fbolt :against rearward sliding vmovement in said frame, a spring actuated plunger .slidable in the `boltfor disengag-ingthe latch for releasing said bolt, and :means operable by the ring pin for releasably semirng the plunger .intretra'cted position, said means including a spring :pressed pawl pivotal-ly mounted on fthe `frame and engaged with `the plunger, and :a cam surface on fthe firing pin engaged with .said -pawl for `disengagifng same from -the `plunger.

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